My daughter Kiena Dawes wanted to live, but she lived in fear and girls shouldn't have to die to be heard

The mother of Fleetwood domestic abuse victim Kiena Dawes is renewing her call for legal reform as the fourth anniversary of her daughter's death approaches.

Angela Dawes is urging the public to support the campaign for Kiena's Law, calling on decision-makers to strengthen the response to coercive and controlling behaviour in a bid to prevent further tragedies. Kiena sadly took her own life on July 22, 2022.

The campaign for Kiena's Law is calling for the creation of a standalone criminal offence that would better recognise serious patterns of coercive, controlling and abusive behaviour while improving protection for victims before harm escalates.

‘My girl didn’t want to die’

Speaking ahead of the anniversary, Angela said: "I'm going to speak from my heart. My girl didn't want to die. My girl wanted to live. But she lived in fear. We've lost a beautiful, very special, kind young girl who's missed so much, not just by me but by so many other people.

"Every day I look into that little girl's eyes, her baby, and I just wish that her mummy was here for her, and she's not. Kiena had a right to live. She wasn't protected by the people that she should have been protected by. She did reach out over and over again, and I was proud of her for that. But she was scared."

"I'll always be Kiena's voice. I'll also be a voice not just for Kiena but for the girls that have been lost as well. My heart goes out to those families.”

Kiena’s Law

Kiena, a 23-year-old mother from Fleetwood, died on July 22, 2022, after experiencing prolonged domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour. Since her daughter's death, Angela has campaigned to ensure Kiena's story continues to be heard and that lasting change is made in her memory.

Speaking about the campaign, Angela said: "Changes need to be made. Girls shouldn't have to die to be heard, and my daughter had to die to be heard. There was so much victim blaming. To have a standalone charge for things like what Kiena went through, I do feel is so important.

“I'm so grateful that we've now got to the point where there could potentially be a Kiena's Law and what it would mean to us as a family. Nothing is ever going to bring my baby back, but if we can change things moving forward, I'd hate to see another family go through what we've been through.

"Please make changes before girls have to die to be heard. There are so many changes that need to be made. I can't personally save any other girls, but I hope I can help by saying this. Please don't give up, all of you who are working so hard for these changes. Please don't give up. Let's stop losing girls in this way."

National campaign

Through parliamentary engagement, national advocacy and partnership working, the campaign has sought to bring the issue to the attention of policymakers and criminal justice agencies, with Kiena's case continuing to inform calls for change.

Public support has continued to grow, with more than 16,000 people signing the Kiena's Law petition in support of stronger protections for victims of coercive and controlling behaviour and greater accountability where domestic abuse contributes to a victim's death.

Ahead of the anniversary, Angela is encouraging members of the public to sign and share the petition to help build momentum for legislative change and create a lasting legacy in Kiena's memory.

She hopes the campaign will help ensure victims are heard, believed and protected, while working towards a future in which no other family experiences a similar loss.

Improving protection for victims

The campaign has been backed heavily by Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw, who has worked closely with Angela and the charity Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) to raise awareness of domestic abuse-related suicide and press for legislative reform.

Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw renewed his call for continued action to tackle violence against women and girls. "Kiena's story has touched people across Lancashire and beyond. Angela's determination to campaign for change in her daughter's memory is both courageous and inspiring.

"We must continue to learn lessons, improve protections for victims and ensure that women and girls are supported when they seek help. I would encourage people to support the petition and help keep this important conversation at the forefront of public and political debate."

‘Serious gap in the law’

Frank Mullane MBE, CEO of Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA), said: "Kiena's case exposed a serious gap in the law. Too often, when a victim dies by suicide following prolonged domestic abuse, coercive control and intimidation, the full impact of that abuse is not recognised by the criminal justice system.

"Angela's courage and determination have helped shine a light on this issue, but this campaign is about much more than one family. Kiena's Law represents an opportunity to recognise the devastating and sometimes fatal consequences of coercive and controlling behaviour, improve accountability and help prevent future deaths.

"We owe it to Kiena and to every family affected by domestic abuse-related suicide to make that change."

Sign the petition: www.change.org/kienas-law

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